Machine for flaring or deforming ends of tubes



May 25, 1948. J, L vAlLL 2,442,224

MGHINE FOR FLARING ORl DEFORMING ENDS OF TUBES Filed Sept. 28, 1944. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. L. VAlLL May 25, 1948.

MACHINE FOR FLARING OR DEFORMING ENDS OF TUBES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28. 1944 5y i ATTUENEY May. 25, 1948.

MACHINE FOR FLARING OR DEFORMING ENDS OF. TUBES Filed Sept. 28, 1944 v.1. l.e vAlLL 2,442,224

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;Wi ,4 `w\\\ w Patented May 25, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE MACHINE Fon FLAmNG on nEFoRMINc ENDS or TUBES John L. Vaill, Middlebury, Conn.

Application September 28, 1944, Serial No. 556,189

4 Claims. 1

Ihis invention relates to tube end forming machines7 and more particularly to a manuallycontrolled uid-operated machine for beading, iiaring, flanging, expanding, sinking, double-lap Haring, or double-lap fianging the end of a tubing of any workable material such as aluminum, steel, etc.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the above nature in which the end of the tubing will be pressed against an adjustable stop member and then clamped by means of a pair of cooperating die members before the shaping or forming operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above nature in which the stop member ha-s a Vernier screw in order to facilitate the adjustment thereof.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above nature in which the stop member will be swung downwardly out of the way of the punch before the latter strikes the end of the tubing.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above nature having a split horizontal chucking die, the upper section of which is movable downwardly for clamping the work tightly against the lower section before the shaping operation.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above nature in which the upperdie section is held downwardly upon the tubing by a fluidoperated piston during the shaping operation.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above nature, in which provision is made of a set of interchangeable dies and punches which will permit a wide variety of tubing sizes and shapes to be formed on a single machine.V

A further object is to provide a machine of the above nature in which the chucking ldies and the flaring and beading punches may be interchanged rapidly from one size to another.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above nature which will perform automatically the forming operation in a fraction of the time required with former manual method-s, and which machine may be operated by relatively unskilled labor on a mass production basis.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, safe to operate, and very eliicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view there have been illustrated on the accompanying drawings, two forms in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a top plan View of the tube end forming machine.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, shown partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same, looking from the right of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the tubing in clamped position before the forming operation. f

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to Fig. 4, showing the appearance of the punch and tubing at the end of the flaring operation.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to the right hand portion of Fig. 5, showing the appearance of the machine after a bead has been formed adjacent the end of the tubing by a beading punch, but before the punch has been withdrawn. I

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral III indicates the base housing of the machine, which housing 'is preferably made of cast metal, and has on the forward part of its upper surface an upstanding end thrust lug II. The thrust lug II is adapted to support a pair of cooperating complementary bottom and top chucking dies I2, I3, the former of which is held down in xed position by means of a horizontal holding screw I4 mounted in said thrust lug II, and Vhaving an exterior knurled knob on the end thereof.

The chucking dies I2, I3 are provided with opposed semi-cylindrical grooves I5, I5 which serve to engage and clamp the tubing T tightly in position during the forming operation, The upper chucking die I3 is adapted to be raised and lowered out of clamping position by means of a pair of vertical drawbars (or chucking studs) I6. I1. preferably round in cross section. The tops of the drawbars I6, I'I are threaded for receiving knurled holding nuts I8, I9 which engage tightly against the movable top chucking die I3. The bottom of the top die I3 rests upon a pair of intermediate lshoulders la, Ila formed on the drawbars I 6, I'I.

The drawbars l5, `I'I are connected at their lower ends by means of a two-part holding bracket I9a, Illa to a anged adapter membenz resting upon the sections of said bracket I 9a, I9a, said adapter Z0 being in turn adjustably connected at its lower end to a depending pistonv rod 2I by means of a threaded sectionvZ Ia located on 2,442,224V y Y said adapter member and screwed into a tapped hole in said piston rod 2 I.

` The piston rod 2| is connected to a die-clampingV piston 22 which is adapted to reciprocate within a, cylinder 23 located at the bottom of the housing I0, said piston 22 being Voperated by means of fluid pressure such as compressed air supplied throughlports 24,25 tolcausesaidlpistom to move downwardly'amfbupwardly, respectively; I

as desired.

After the tubing T, which may be of aluminun'lfj-y 1 or any other workable material, has been clamped tightly between theV chuckingdies" lf2",v I3, itff' is@ adapted to be beaded, flared, ilanged, expanded,A sunk, double-lap flared, double-lap flanged-,-etc.;.V by means of a horizontal plunger '5,Y which is preferably rectangular in cross-'sectiorr"alldis adapted to slide within a bearing 26 mounted- Y,

upon the top of the baserhousing I0. The plunger 56, as illustrated in Figs. 15carries a detachable flaring punch 2l upon itsv forward end, saidpuncll` havingca' hollowtapped Vrear lend .28 which is adaptedto bescrewedupon the:reduced forward threaded end5l'aofftheVV plunger 56E (as, best shown.inlFig.,.4). In the modificatiorrdis-V closed 'in' Fig, 6; the'beadingpunch 27a Lh'asbeen Y substitutedfor theflaring punchv 21';

The* plunger" 5511s` heildxwithin'4 the" bearing 25 by?. means of an` upper plunger bearingcap`f29, and fourycapfjscrewsV 3,0%, '3I (322 33)" are" employedto attacli'said cap 29"tosaid bearingiZI.A

In order to limit ,the inward movement of thetubing; Tf, whenK t is" beinginserted betweenY the chuckingrdies" I2, I3? provision is made of `an adr-V justablestop block 'lIIl'carriedV on the forward end of 'at rocker; arm' 3,4; which has a rear dependingV end 38"'Vsplit toform apair'ofbearing lugs 315," 35,;V which' embrace `a pin 4I] carrying a roller '39,' said' pin-141) `being held in'placebycotter'pins 4I, 4I'. The rocker 'arm 345^ has arrV enlargedV hub 34a Vwhich ts over a horizontal pivot pin 35, the lat`I ter being mounted inl upstanding bearings 36a,

An intermediate section 42``offthe rocker arm 34""is pressed upwardly at'V all times by means of 1 aVv pilot pinv 43'r iitted1 into a' recess' V43m-'said' pin 43fbeingzengagedby aA coiled spring-Mwhicl'l isy seatedat its bottom endfinfa=recess 45 formed in thevtopof thefplnnger bearing 'cap'29 providedwithfaLl-depending 'section 46 which tere minates in Ya :hlcrizontal'front sectifon- 4`lV which is substantially rectangular in shape 'forlslidably supporting the hollow stop'v blocl 48tted 'around' said section 4IV andli'aving"a'rflaterallyeextending horizontal finger 4'9" wl:iich`f limits the amountth'e tubing T'mayV b'e v`insertd through the chucking disl2,|3, Y

The I'position rectangular section 4-T=`may-be accurately adjust- Y edi-by means ofayernier screw 50' carried bythe depending section 4S of the y'rocker arm 34, and

having a knurled section to" facilitate the 'manip-Y ulation thereof.'Y threaded 'end 5021 which' is i'tted into'` a horizontal ofthe block-4s' en thenonzontai tion within the depending section 46 ofthe rocker Y* arm 34. Av transverse set screw is also provided in the stop block 48 for engaging the rectangular section 41 of the rocker arm 34.

In order to cause the stop block 48 to be lowered automatically out ofV the path of the punch 21 before it strikes the inner end of the tubing T, p rovisionis made of a =cam-re cess 5'IA in .the top'r surface ofgtnefpmngersc; justfbehinc nie bearing-2B. Y Y

The plunger 5B is connected by'a coupling 5B toY a pistonvrodl 59,V secured to a piston which ffts'witliinfafcylinder- 6I located atthe rearY of the machine. m ain,fhousing4 IIJ by means of a paixl of holdingV The cylinder 6I is connected to the screw bolts E2, 62which are screwed into a flange `635km#thefiontlof-'said cylinder 6I. Compressed airlorfother iiuid under pressure is admitted to the reaifand front ends ofthe cylinder 6I by means of ports 64, 55, the fluid being under the contrcl'ora double four'fwayfvalvefhaving a pairof `vertical p lungers |31,l Bil-which `aredriven` alternately 'upfandf'down Aby they manipulationfof"Y an angular valvev handle '59" loosely 'connected ttc* YI e'being pivotally mount:V

said p ungers, said han ed uponlahorizontalfpin 'H31` In'order to protect the operator fromYac-cidenta'li contact` with` the '-moving'f 'part'scV of? the machine, provision vis made'V of a semi? cylindrical guardj'lI of any suitable Atransparent molded plastic ma?V terial, Vsaid 'guard I I being 'sliown in open position i bydotted lines in Fi`g,"3' `Provision is also :madef of a pair vof'selflubrieatingfporousbronze b`ush= are attached 'to theA upper cliucking die I Operation f' Assuming that the; upper Chuelnngei issfirl will'be admitted'to theQtop of the chuck-operatjing piston 22, andsubsequently,y afterlay short' period of timejluid willbefadmittedto thelrear ofthe punch-operating piston.' 4This will cause theV upper j chucking die I3, toV be. iirst. firmly clamped'fagainst'the tubing T, andthe pl1`1ngjer`Y '5B willlthereafterbe driven forward bythe piston IiiJAto forcetl'ie punch'rZ'I AagainstftheVend oftheA- tubing to form ahead, flare, Vflange, etc.,` thereon, as desired,` VIt will', of 'courseL/b'e :understood-that thestoplug ngerllll, in the incantime,v willfhave A been forced downwardlybythe,engagementofV (see1iig-4).Y y

' Provision isv also made of 'a small VVertical locke in'giplate 5'I "having a recess v52"fi',t`ingr overa neck 53': on' theV Vernier' screw '5'0" for' holdi'ngtheV latter in pesitiong` Ahorizontals-crew54isf provided `for fattaoningin'e'piatefslfto tneuepeiidi'ngendfwof' Y is@ extremely easy'tooperateibecauseit is merely] the cani' recess 5VI'fvon'the Yplunger' 'o'iwith theY I roller` 33 on the'rear of the spring-'pressed rocker;

arm 34.'V Y l Y VTo complete'vthe cycle of' operation, the control handle 159 will then be reversed, causing the punch; Y to be Withdrawnandftliereafterlopening tliedies'.'

\ removed manually Y The ftubing'l Tr mayV then be from the end lof the machine;V Y Y Y Itwill'tli'us ube Yseren'thai', theipresent machine necessary for theloperatorftosit or standir'ijfront K of the machine an`d manually inserte,tuber through an' opening' "in'ftle 'sida 0f the ,casingr` Y Y thereof' untiIit'IengagesV the vstop memberj andtoj then; operate-the control handle',` whereupontli'elA chucking dies Willfbe-f clsedianidftlie' frmiig'f Y operation will thereafter be performed automatically.

One advantage of the present invention is that the stop block 48 may readily be adjusted on the end of the rocker arm by manipulating the Vernier screw 59 so as to control the outside diameter of the bead or the shape of the flare, ilange, etc., formed on the tubing with a high degree ci accuracy.

A further advantage of the present invention is that all moving parts of the machine except the operating handle are enclosed by a protective casing, thereby making it entirely safe for the operator.

A further advantage is that the shaping or forming operation on the ends of tubing may be done with extreme ease, and moreover, the present machine will leave no score marks or dirt on the interior of the tubing for the reason that no tools touch the inside thereof.

A further advantage is that by flaring the ends of a tubing by this machine, there will be less reduction in gauge or hardening of the metal than occurred with former types of spinning or rolling machines now in common use.

A still further advantage is that when a bead is formed on a tube by the present machine, the gauge of the metal will actually be increased at the bead, resulting in greater strength at this point, which would not be possible with any known spinning or rolling process.

A further advantage is that it is possible with the present machine to produce a flare in which all waviness is eliminated.

While there have been disclosed in this specilication two forms in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that these forms are shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specic disclosures, but may be modied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its Spirit. In short, the invention includes 'all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

l. In a machine for automatically forming a bead, nare, iiange, etc., selectively, upon the end of a tubing capable of being cold worked, chucking means to clamp said tubing, a punch, a reciprocating plunger carrying said punch in alignment with said tubing, stop means to limit the position of the end of said tubing with respect to said chucking means prior to the movement of said punch-carrying plunger, means to adjust the longitudinal position of said stop means comprising a spring-pressed rocker arm located above the position of said plunger, a stop block carried on the forward end of said rocker arm and initially serving as an abutment for said tubing when it is manually inserted into said chucking means, and a roller on the rear end of said rocker arm, said plunger having a cam recess within which said roller is initially engaged, whereby the movement of said plunger will cause said roller to be lifted for swinging said rocker arm and depressing said stop block.out ofy the path of said punch before said punch engages the end of said tubing.

2. In a machine for automatically forming the end of a tubing, means for chucking said tubing when it is manually inserted into said chucking means, means to depress said stop block out of the path of the punch just before said punch engages the end of said tubing, said stop block being adjustably mounted on the forward end of said rocker arm, and a Vernier screw connected to said rocker arm and adjustably engaging said stop block to accurately locate the initial position of said stop block to gauge the length of the tubing inserted through said chucking means.

3. In a machine for automatically forming a bead, flare, flange, etc., selectively, upon the end of a tubing, chucking means to clamp said tubing, a punch, a reciprocating plunger carrying said punch in alignment with said tubing, said machine having an upstanding bearing for the forward end of said plunger, stop means to limit the position of the end of said tubing with respect to said chu-cking means prior to the movement of said punch-carrying plunger comprising a spring-pressed rocker arm carried by said machine, said rocker arm being pivotecl to said bearing on an axis transverse to said plunger and having a forward abutment engageable by said tubing when inserted into said chucking means, and means responsive to the movement of said plunger to swing said rocker arm and depress said abutment out of the path of said punch before it engages the end of said tubing.

4. In a machine for automatically forming a bead, flare, flange, etc., selectively, upon the end of a tubing, chucking means to clamp said tubing, a punch, a reciprocating plunger carrying said punch in alignment with said tubing, stop means to limit the position of the end of said tubing with respect to said chucking means prior to the movement of said punch-carrying plunger, said stop means comprising a spring-pressed rocker arm having a forward abutment engageable by said tubing when inserted into said chu-cking means, said rocker arm being pivotally carried by said machine on an .axis transverse to and offset from said plunger, and means operatively connecting said rocker arm and said plunger for swinging said rocker arm to depress said abutment out of the path of said punch upon the forming movement of said plunger toward said tubing.

JOHN L. VAILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 210,088 Brightman Nov. 19, 1878 410,000 Matheson Aug. 27, 1889 935,366 High Sept. 28, 1909 989,805 Reynolds Apr. 18, 1911 1,383,840 Mueller et a1, July 5, 1921 1,740,792 Strachauer et al. Dec. 24, 1929 1,829,809 Ready Nov. 3, 1941 1,955,356 Brenner Apr. 17, 1934 1,971,251 Cornell, Jr. Aug. 21, 1934 2,117,543 Corrigan May 17, 1938 

